Hope for the Endangered Planet

“There is hope if people will begin to awaken that spiritual part of themselves, that heartfelt knowledge that we are caretakers of this planet.”

—Brooke Medicine Eagle

“If we were logical, the future would be bleak indeed. But, we are more than logical. We are human beings, and we have faith, and we have hope.”

— Jacques Cousteau

“The use of solar energy has not been opened up because the oil industry does not own the sun.”

— Ralph Nader

“There is sufficiency in the world for man’s need but not for man’s greed.”

— Mohandis Gandhi

I have walked or paddled in so many incredible places, and everywhere I go, I find beauty and sometimes peace. But this incredible planet is being destroyed in front of my very eyes, and I feel somewhat helpless.

The average human is peaceful in nature, but a few evil leaders and greedy businesspeople use intimidation and fear to pressure helpless workers into following their path. These destructive forces have always baffled me, so I have chosen the simple path of trying to be a positive force and enjoying this wonderful place while I can.

We are all just dancing on this earth for a very short while, and any positive energy that we can muster can really help to change the world. I think that the key to survival is to embrace nature and simplify our lives, and a little change can go a long way. It is hard to describe what I feel when I walk through an ancient forest. Some of the old trees have been here for many centuries, and they would have amazing stories to tell if they could only speak. Nature has always been my main source of energy, and I cannot contemplate a life without it.

We humans are a very strange species, and I can only imagine what the animals must be saying about us now. It is hard to believe that the same species that created music could also create nuclear bombs. Our current society has the highest level of education that the world has ever known, but most of it is being wasted on the design and construction of thousands of ever-changing, useless gadgets that wear out very quickly and pack our landfills with toxic waste. If this knowledge was put to a wise use, it could create a utopia powered by solar and wind energy with plenty of food and clean air for everyone.

I believe that optimism and a good sense of humor are essential for survival in this modern world. It is still an incredible place, so get out there and enjoy it while you can, because life could end at any moment, and you might only live once. It doesn’t take very much to be a positive force, and a million positive forces can really change the world.